What employers want from a hospitality staff
- A friendly, fast, calm-under-pressure service manner
- Food safety awareness (HACCP) for kitchen and food roles
- Flexibility across late nights, weekends and split shifts
- Teamwork and cleanliness — the kitchen and floor run on both
- Any barista, cellar, cocktail or till skills you hold
Skills to put on your Hospitality Staff CV
Include the words below that you can honestly claim — they are exactly what an employer, and the automated screening tools (ATS) many use, look for. Never invent a skill or ticket you don't hold.
How to structure your Hospitality Staff CV
Personal profile (2–3 lines)
Show energy, reliability and flexibility, and name your setting (bar, restaurant, hotel, café) and any food-safety training.
- "Fast, friendly hospitality worker with HACCP training and X years in busy service. Strong on teamwork, cleanliness and covering flexible shifts."
Key skills
Combine service skills (table/bar service, till) with the safety and speed that kitchens and floors depend on.
- Table / bar service
- Food safety (HACCP)
- Cash & POS
- Barista / cocktails
- Cleaning & hygiene
Work experience
Show volume and pace: covers per service, busy venues, events. Mention if you opened, closed or ran a section.
- Delivered fast, friendly table service during busy covers
- Prepared food and drinks to spec while keeping the station clean
- Handled cash and card payments accurately at the end of service
Availability & training
State your flexibility and list HACCP, manual handling or any barista/cellar training with dates.
Certifications & tickets worth listing
List these with real dates only if you hold them — they are often the difference between a call-back and the reject pile.
- HACCP / Food Safety certificate
- Manual Handling
- Barista / responsible service of alcohol training (if held)
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not mentioning HACCP for kitchen or food-handling roles
- Hiding shift flexibility — late nights and weekends are the job
- Listing 'team player' with no busy-service evidence
- Ignoring transferable retail or care service experience
Hospitality Staff CV — frequently asked questions
Do I need HACCP to work in hospitality?
For any role handling food, employers strongly prefer or require food-safety (HACCP) training. It's inexpensive, quick to complete, and worth putting on your CV.
How do I write a hospitality CV with no experience?
Lead with attitude, energy and flexible availability, add any HACCP training, and include transferable service work from retail, care or events. Many venues train from scratch.
What makes a hospitality CV stand out?
Proof you handle pace and busy service, clear shift flexibility, and specific skills (barista, cocktails, cellar, till). Keep it to one page — managers hire fast.